Method of and apparatus for treating cottonseed lint



ED LINT Jan. 21, 1941. J. c. Roer-:Rs Erm.

METHOD OF AND APPARATUS FOR TREATING COTTONSE Filed July 6, 1938 2 Sheets-Sheet l BHL /NG 739555 METHOD oF AND APPARATUS F011 TREATING coTToNsEED LINT J. C. ROGERS El' AL 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed July 6, 1938 DOUG@000000000000000000000@00 Patented Jan. 21, 1941 UNITED STATES PATENT FFICE John C. Rogers and Redding Sims, New Orleans, La.

Application July 6, 1938, Serial No. 217,784

6 Claims.

imum removal of dust from the lint; and to gen-- era'lly improve the eiciency of systems of this typewhile at the same time simplifying and reducing the cost of initial installation and subsequent maintenance.

Another object ofthe invention is to provideA a fully automatic pneumatic system forcleaning,

and conveying the lint to a baling press.

Another object of the invention is to provide for the eicient removal of dust-laden air from individual linter condensers and the recovery of any ber thereinr thereby preventing the escape of dust into the atmosphere of the 4delinting room, vconsequently decreasing health and fire hazards.

Another object is to subject the lint to a s econdary cleaning and `to recover any of the shorter fibers which may previously not have been recovered.

Another object of the invention is to provide a system in which the air containing dirt and lint may be handled in such a manner that the cellulose content of the lint condensed may be varied within wide limits without discharging dirt and lint-laden air to the atmosphere.

Another object ofthe invention is to provide means forproducing a uniform 'grade of lint from two or more individual condensers.

Another object of the invention is to remove condensed lint by aspiration and provide forinspection of the lint before such removal.

A further object of the invention is to provide an improved type of lint condenser wherein the lint is removed from the condenser screen through the medium of suction, thereby eliminating labor incident to the removal of lint from a bat `roll or like device and at the same time effecting a cleaning action on the lint, and in conjunction therewith the removal of dust and dust-laden air blown through the condenser screen by the linterbrush by improved dust-re- (Cl. 1li- 156) moving means coacting with said suction or aspirating means.

A still further object is to improve the construction of the condenser screen to render such parts more efficient and durable, and to improve lint condensers generally. i

The foregoing and other objects and advantages Will become apparent in View of the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings wherein:

Fig. lis a diagrammatic View illustrating one application of the invention;

Fig. 2, a vertical section of. an individual condenser in accordance with the present invention;

Fig. 3, a View in rear elevation and section4 taken substantially on the lineV 3-3, Fig. 2;

Fig. 4, a vertical sectiony of a portion of a linter and its coacting condenser, the latter in this instance having a modied form. of air-removal duct; and,

Fig. 5, a fragmentaryr detail illust1ating` the construction of-a new type of screen for the condensers.

Referring to the drawings in detail, and` first to Fig. 1, a battery of rst cut linters is indicated at 5 and a battery of second cut lintersat 6. As will be understood, cottonseed with lint thereon is delivered to the first cut linters and lint is partially removed, after which the seed` is taken by conveyor 'I to the battery of second cut linters for a further delinting operation. At the rear` of each of the first cut linters 5 is a condenser 8, the construction of which is shown more or less` in detail in Figs. 2 to 4, inclusive, and will be subsequently described in connection with these fig ures. Lint from the individual condensers 8 is taken through a suction conduit or line 9 to a condenser I0, common to the said individual condensers, where a final condensing action of the rst cut lint is eiiected and from which they condensed lint may be taken to a baling press and baled. Dust and air from condenser l is drawn through conduit Il to a fan 22.

In the battery oi second cut linters 6, `lint and air are taken from the linters ythrough take-01T conduits I3, which feed into a main trunk line I4 which delivers the lint and` air to the condenser l2. In a similar` manner dust and air.

pass through conduit I6 to the fan 22.

The dust control system is designed to coact with the lint-removing and condensing` system and includes conduit I5, which takes dust-laden air from the first cut condensers in a manner to be described and delivers it to conduit I6 beyond` the condenser l2.

The lint from the condenser I2 is deposited in a bale press while the dust from all of the condensers is drawn through conduit I6 and then forced through conduit Il to a collector I8, preferably of the cyclone type, from which it drops into a tailings beater I 9. Dust and hull particles drop through the tailings beater into a hopper 20, While cleaned lint is drawn through conduit 2I back to the line I4 and thence to the second cut condenser I2.

In operation, cotton seed is fed to the first cut linters in any suitable manner as through hoppers, not shown, and a portion of the lint removed and condensed in the individual condensers 8. As the lint is condensed or deposited on the screens of the individual condensers Sit is aspirated or drawn therefrom in a manner to be described in conjunction with Figs. 2 to 4, inelusive, and delivered to the main iirst' cut condenser III. If a battery of second cut linters is to be used, they may be like the first cut condensers or of the conventional type oflint flue system as shown in Fig. 1.l Seed from the first cut linters is taken by the conveyor 'I to the second cut linters, Where the seed is subjected to a further delinting operation, the lint and air from the second cut linters passing to the main second cut condenser I2. Lint of rst cut quality may, by this system, be kept separate from lint of second cut quality.

Dust and dust-laden air is taken from the rst cut condensers through the dust line I5, while at the same time dust is taken from the master rst and second cut condensers I0 and I2 through lines II and I6 respectively, line II tapping into line I6. Dust and lint-laden air from the entire system is conducted to the collector I8 and thence into tailings beater I9. When passing into the latter, all lint is removed from the hull particles and progressed to a point where it is caught by suction and drawn through conduit 2| to the condenser I2.

Important advantageous features just described include:

The arrangement whereby a single fan 22 serves both the lint flue and dust control systems. By this means, not only is the cost of the original installation materially reduced, but subsequent maintenance costs are also reduced. Furthermore, the installation as a whole is materially simplied.

By having individual condensers with each of the first cut linters instead of taking the lint and dust to a single main condenser, thevcharacter of the lint from each individual linter is open for ready inspection at all times. This is important, since where the lint is taken directly from a battery of linters to a single or main condenser, it often happens that the entire batch of lint is lowered in quality due to an incorrect adjustment of a single linter. Thus, by observing the character of lint as it comes from each linter and before it mingles with the lint from other linters,

. the quality of the lint as a whole may be better regulated. As will be understood, the quality of the lint is controlled at the delinting machine by adjusting the tonnage of seed passing through the machine in a given length of time and also by the degree of sharpness of the saws which re- 'move the lint from the seed. While Fig. 1 illustrates a conventional lint flue system on the second cut linters, linters equipped like the first cut linters would have the same advantages as the rst cut battery.

Dust 'separation is more easily handled at the individual condensers than is the case where air and dust, or the air together with entrained lint and dirt is carried to a main or master condenser.

Aspiration or suction removal at each individual condenser reduces labor costs and ensures cleaner lint.

Waste or loss of lint is reduced to a minimum by the final stage of lint recovery, or the tailings beater I9 and by return of the recovered ber to the main condenser through the lint and air line Il. With the arrangement disclosed this added feature may be incorporated with a minimum initial cost and subsequent maintenance.

It may be desired to operate all linters on one condenser and make only one out of lint, in which case the tailing from the beaterY I9 would return to the suction main going to the master condenser.

Referring now to Figs. 2 to 5, inclusive, each of the condensers 8 is preferably constructed in a manner such that the dust is removed by suction from the interior of the condenser drum, while simultaneously the lint is removed by suction from the exterior of the drum, or the drum screen. This condenser may be considered in the nature of an improvement with respect to the condenser of our copending application Serial No. 132,079 led March 20, 1937. The condenser, as shown, comprises a supporting base or frame .structure 23 on which is mounted a drum 24. Thisdrum is free of all central obstructions such as the conventional central shaft with radiating spokes or spider members. In its preferred form the drum comprises a main fora-minated backing cylinder 25 which is preferably made of relatively heavy sheet metal formed with a plurality.

of perforations 25, saidcylindrical body or backing member being connected at opposite ends to rings 21 formed with a smooth bearing portion 21a, internal gear teeth 28, and preferably also a peripheral flange 29. The cylindrical backing member or body 25 is clothed by a screen 30, which gives a friction surface to the foraminated cylinder, and smaller holes for screening surface.

With this type of drum, not only are all central obstructions obviated permitting unhindered installation of dust-removing means to be described, but also the conventional cross connecting ribs which form a backing for the screen are eliminated. Furthermore, the backing cylinder 25 reduces wear on the screen due tothe firm support afforded thereby. While in certain instances, it may be desirable to use a perforated backing cylinder 'alone without the use of a screen, yet it has been found that in such instances the peripheral surface of the rigid backing member becomes smooth so that lint does not adhere thereto, resulting in loss of eciency. Also, the elimination of ribs in condenser drums permits a closer application of sealing strips which prevent the air from the linter brush from being blown out of or sucked into the confined area in the cylinder. The use of supporting ribs also necessitated the use of a exible sealing strip which would be subjected to fatigue by the reason of the fact that it was constantly being flexed by the ribs.

Each drum is mounted on a series of bearing rollers 3| which engage the smooth bearing portion 21a of ring 21, the drum being driven through the medium of a drive gear 33, which in turn is driven from a drive pulley 33a, connected to a line shaft or any other suitable source of power. The bearing rollers SI are supported through the medium of bracket 35, which in turn is supported on cross frame member 36.

In this connection, there are certain advantages inherent in the placing of the teeth inside of the end rings of the drum. For example, there is no chance for the lint to collect on the teeth which would be the case where they are maintained on the periphery of the drum oittimes resulting in clogging and defective operation.

Lint from the linting machine is blown by the revolving linter brush B, note Fig. 4, against a sealed-off or active portion of the drum 2li, or the screen 30 thereon, through conduit 31. The means for sealing ofi the active portion of the screen on the interior of the drum comprising a sealing plate 38 mounted inside the drum and provided at its lower extremity with a suction conduit 39, having an intake slot till, or in the modied construction of Fig. 4 with a section conduit 39 having an intake slot Ml'.

The diierence in the modied construction is in aring the suction conduit toward its discharge end, or having it of megaphone shape, toy obtain more capacity for the air, which increases in amount as the discharge end of the conduit is approached.

It will be noted that the conduits 39 and 39' are located at a point below the area set oi by said plate 3B. This is a distinct advantage in that all dust particles automatically gravitate to the conduits 39 and 39', thereby permitting more eicient removal with relatively low suction not only at each individual condenser but throughout the entire system. The conduit 3l forms an enclosed chamber on the outside of the condenser screen and the plate 38 forms a corresponding chamber on the inside of the screen with the active portion of the screen forming a partition between the chambers. Thus practically the total amount or volume of air in the outer chamber is exposed to the active surface of the screen and may pass therethrough.

It will further be noted that suction applied t0 the duct at the interior of the condenser screen is communicated to the inner side of the screen, so that an auxiliary suction action is applied to remove from one side of the screen the air, dirt and fiber blown to the other side of the screen by the linter brush.

To effect removal of the lint from the exterior of the screen, an aspirator 4| is provided and is mounted with its flared nozzle end lying closely adjacent the surfacey of the screen. This aspirator is superior to the conventional bat roll in that it eliminates the labor incident to removal of the roll and bat and replacement of the empty roll; it affords an additional cleaning of the lint; it is readily adapted to the dust system heretofore described, and has other points of superiority with respect to the bat roll system.

If desired, conventional holders may be employed for receiving the conventional bat roll, not shown. Such holders may be provided in the event it is desired to use conventional rollers in place of the aspirator for removing lint from the screen 30.

It should be noted that the type of backing for the condenser screen as herein disclosed is particularly adapted for use with an aspirator or suction removal system, since the screen is rendered perfectly symmetrical throughout its circumferential area. In other words, the periphery of the screen is even and is devoid of any irregularities which would be the case if thel screen were supported by ribs or analogous means.

By having an eicient dust removal system as herein disclosed, the condenser screen may be rotated at a speed such as will result in a relatively thin film of lint deposited thereon, thereby obtaining maximum eciency in dust removal from the lint. This is of considerable advantage over systems wherein the dust and dirt is blown out into the linter room, since in such cases there is a tendency to build up a relatively thick layer of lint on the condenser screen in order to reduce the amount of dust and dirt discharged into the room. Since the cellulose content of the lint is directly proportional to the purity thereof, or is reduced in proportion to the amount of dirt in the lint, a more eiiicient cleaning action results in a higher quality product.

With applicants dust-control method on a iirst cut linter the shorterbers are, to a considerable extent at least, actually pulled through the condenser screen together with the dust and dirt so that the first cut lint is cleaner and of longer staple and therefore commands a higher price. The shorter fibers from the rst out linter then go with the staple taken off from the second cut linter or linters and which second cut lint is substantially identical with that drawn through the condenser screens of the iirst cut linters. Therefore this mixing of the short bers from the rst `cut lint with those of the second cut lint does not lower the value of the second cut lint, the latter usually being sold upon the cellulose content thereof and which is not dependent upon the length of the staple. The iirst out lint derives its value primarily from the length of the staple and its cleanliness.

It will be understood that the system illustrated may be changed and rearranged as well as certain parts omitted while still retaining the teachings of the invention, and also that certain changes in construction and design of the condenser unit may be made Within the province of the invention as defined by the appended claims.

We claim:

l. In a system for delinting cottonseed, a battery of first cut linters and a battery of second cut linters, individual condensers operatively associated with certain of said linters and provided with condenser screens, an aspirator operatively associated with each of said screens for removing lint therefrom by suction, a condenser common to said individual condensers and another condenser common to said second cut linters, separate suction conduits for conveying lint from said condensers and said linters to said main condensers, a separate suction line for removing dust from said individual condensers without passing it through the screens of said main condensers, a cyclone collector and a tailings beater operatively associated with said collector, a return conduit providing a pneumatic conveyor for returning lint taken from the dust and hull particles by said tailings beater to the main system, and a fan common to said lint-conveying and dust-removing means for establishing pressure in the system.

In a system for delinting cottonseed, a plurality of linters, individual condensers for at least a portion of said linters each having a hollow condenser screen, means removing lint by aspiration from said condenser screens, the system including a suction conduit operating to convey lint from said linters to a point of deposit or for further treatment, means for simultaneously removing dust and dust-laden air from the interior of said individual condenser screens, means for separating lint from said dust-laden air, a dust iiue com` mon to said dust removing means operating to convey the dust and dust-laden air to said sepa rating means without mixing the dust with the lint from the linters or from the individual condensers, and means for returning the lint reclaimed from the dust to said lint-conveying means.

3. In a system for delinting cottonseed, a plurality of linters each of which has a linter brush, individual condensers for at least a portion of said linters each having a hollow condenser screen on which lint is blown by said brush, means removing lint by aspiration directly from the periphery of each individual condenser screen, a main condenser common to at least a portion of said linters, the system including a suction conduit operating to convey lint from said linters to said main condenser, means removing dust and dust-laden air by suction from the interior of said individual condenser screens, a dust ue common to said dustremoving means but separate from said lint ue, means for separating lint from the dust-laden air, said dust flue communicating with said separating means, and means for returning the lint reclaimed from the dust to said lint flue.

4. In a system for delinting cottonseed, the method which consists in subjecting the seed to rst and second cut delinting operations, applying suction to the interior of a condenser Screen of a rst cut lint condenser to remove from the inner side of the screen the air, dirt and fiber deposited on the exterior of the screen and passing therethrough, removing the fibers deposited on the exterior of the screen, and mixing the shorter fibers pulled through the screen with other iibers obtained as a result of the second cut delinting operation.

5. In a system fordelinting cottonseed, a rst cut linter and a second cut linter, a condenser associated with the irst cut linter and having a revolving condenser screen, means for blowing lint to the exterior ofY said screen, a suction conduit communicating with the interior of said screen and operating to remove from the inner side of the screen the air, dirt and fiber which passes through the screen, and means for conducting the short iiber passing through said screen and into said suction conduit with the fiber obtained by said second cut linter.

6. In a system for delinting cottonseed, a battery of rst cut linters and a battery of second cut linters, individual condensers operatively associated With certain of said linters and provided with condenser screens, individual aspirators operatively associated with the peripheries of said screens for removing lint directly therefrom by suction, a main condenser for rst cut lint and a separate main condenser for second cut lint, a lint conveyor suction conduit communicating said aspirators with said iirst cut condenser and another conveyor suction conduit communicating said second cut linters with said second cut condenser, suction members arranged to remove dust and dust-laden air from the interior of said condenser screens and a main dust conduit or line common to said suction members, a collector arranged to receive dust, hull particles and the like from the system, said dust conduit or line being arranged to convey dust and other matter from said individual condenser screens to said collector Without passing it through the screens of said main condensers.

JOHN C. ROGERS. REDDING SIMS. 

